-One Fine Day-: June 2011

So I realize I need to do something really badly. I need to simplify my life.

Simplifying in order to be happier, save money, be more organized and to more greatly succeed in my passions.

I need to clean and get rid of clutter. I am a girl, sometimes thinking I want certain products such as Aveda hair products and Bioelements skin care.. and so on. So if I have certain products I know are trusted - I must continue to know my trusted products and not consume quantity items. I've been going through a few things in my house lately and realize I really need to have a rummage sale and get rid of things I do not need or use. I need to stick to quality things that I use and that are important. I could use a bit of extra cash, but also this would help me feel more comfortable in my environment. With less things to clutter, I could use my art room more accurately and know what is ME and what I should be doing.

In this cleaning process, I want to make sure I collect all of my recipes on pieces of paper that are floating around and put them ALL in my book. I also need a seperate notebook for notes, instead of my multiple moleskins. I need ONE good one, or maybe continue to have the one I always keep in my purse but make sure I have another that I continuosly jot things down in while I am browsing online and researching books etc. All of the baking notes and different findings, ideas, sketches that are put into one big tub need to each be put in their special place. Cake sketches all in the same sketchpad. Better organization will help me keep track of things I have learned and developed and will help me continue to do so. Stop with all the post its? MAYBE. they just end up everywhere and maybe aren't really followed real well.

A book I've been reading (slowly) called "the Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin goes through simple things that we can do to create a more calm life creating a more happier life. Simple things such as keeping things around your home picked up. Everything in your home should have a place where it belongs - no clutter. Why leave something thrown on the table, a shirt on the floor, shoes in the wrong place, when they simply have a place they can go. And it doesn't take much to put it them there. The book also talks about letting things go. Annoyed by your spouse or roommate for not doing things, or leaving a little dish dirty - figure out polite ways to tell them assertively or it probably REALLY is not something to lose sleep over. And do not always expect praise or appreciation. The books explains how "feeling right" is about living the life that's right for YOU - in occupation, location, marital status, your schedule/routine and so on. And you're beliefs about a certain schedule, morals, etc are what make you happy and who you are, others opinions on success and the way to live is theirs and does not apply to you. And it is okay for you to disagree with others ways of life or think they have a lack of motivation. Or it is okay to not be on a set schedule that many would find "normal" It is okay for you to want different things.

So along with decluttering and simplifying to know what is most important, what the necessities are - I want to simplify things in all aspects. Focus on what is important. Focus on what keeps me going. Stop worrying so much and analyzing every little thing. Stop wondering so much - why is this like this or why did so and so?.. STOP. It is merely a waist of time and energy. It is good to think sometimes and process things to know what you believe in, but sometimes it is just too much and you tend to assume things and make yourself paranoid (and sometimes it just gets you into trouble and it makes you unhappy). Know what you believe in and what you disagree with, know what you do not understand, but do not over analyze. Simplify. You can not control other peoples actions and you, nor I, will ever make sense of why people do the things they do, but we CAN be the best we can be and worry about our own actions instead of others.

What in life makes us happy? What makes us breath, tick.. what makes us want to get up every morning? What do we NEED? SIMPLIFY. My goal - Well I've been telling myself what keeps me going for awhile, but I am going to try to better simplify and put what is most important to me on the top of my list and focus. What do I need? My passions, creativity, succeeding, work, family, food, water, bread, exercise, health. Pomegranate Vitamin Water, art supplies, ingredients, pans, liners. sleep. Do I need to wonder what's going on at the bar, why that boy acted like that, why someone didn't call, why so and so did something a certain way or didn't do something? Don't worry about it. Do what makes you happy and worry about your actions. Is there something that really brings stress - a situation, a task, a person? Get rid of it. Simplify and don't surround yourself with things that make you extremely stressed or unhappy. Do I need 3 bottles of hairspray that I dont use? Do I need to have so many food items stocked up that I never even use? Or buy new chap stick when I have others laying around I don't like? no. Get rid of clutter and only buy trusted things that I use. Saving money will obviously help me be what I want to be and stress me less, but de-cluttering will also improve my happiness by just feeling more organized. Having a clean space and not feeling crowded would just bring simplicity and calm. It would help one feel fresh, bright, clean. And if things are all in their place, with not TOO many things, it would help one stay focused - and obviously know where to find what when they need it (hey that would cause less stress too!)

Don't think I am a filthy person though! I am actually a pretty clean freak already. But I just feel like I have way too many things I don't need and things just pile up. Simplifying and sticking to the bare essentials will gives us a cleaner, more focused, simpler life :) Also, along with simplifying other areas of life, someone a few months ago said to me after my continuous complaining (however I was going through a lot of life changes and very hard times), but they said, "you have a lot to complain about and you have good reasons to complain - but all of these issues/things you do not like, are things you can fix." So - if we do not like something, we FIX IT! Simplify everything. It is really that simple.

http://happyherbivore.com/2011/06/minimalist-kitchen/ This also got me thinking more and reminded me of the Happiness Project. I am right along with you!